Postmodern design was a short-lived movement that manifested itself chiefly in Italy and the United States in the early 1980s. The characteristics of vintage postmodern furniture and other postmodern objects and decor for the home included loud-patterned, usually plastic surfaces; strange proportions, vibrant colors and weird angles; and a vague-at-best relationship between form and function.
ORIGINS OF POSTMODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
CHARACTERISTICS OF POSTMODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
POSTMODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
VINTAGE POSTMODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
Critics derided postmodern design as a grandstanding bid for attention and nothing of consequence. Decades later, the fact that postmodernism still has the power to provoke thoughts, along with other reactions, proves they were not entirely correct.
Postmodern design began as an architectural critique. Starting in the 1960s, a small cadre of mainly American architects began to argue that modernism, once high-minded and even noble in its goals, had become stale, stagnant and blandly corporate. Later, in Milan, a cohort of creators led by Ettore Sottsass and Alessandro Mendini — a onetime mentor to Sottsass and a key figure in the Italian Radical movement — brought the discussion to bear on design.
Sottsass, an industrial designer, philosopher and provocateur, gathered a core group of young designers into a collective in 1980 they called Memphis. Members of the Memphis Group, which would come to include Martine Bedin, Michael Graves, Marco Zanini, Shiro Kuramata, Michele de Lucchi and Matteo Thun, saw design as a means of communication, and they wanted it to shout. That it did: The first Memphis collection appeared in 1981 in Milan and broke all the modernist taboos, embracing irony, kitsch, wild ornamentation and bad taste.
Memphis works remain icons of postmodernism: the Sottsass Casablanca bookcase, with its leopard-print plastic veneer; de Lucchi’s First chair, which has been described as having the look of an electronics component; Martine Bedin’s Super lamp: a pull-toy puppy on a power-cord leash. Even though it preceded the Memphis Group’s formal launch, Sottsass’s iconic Ultrafragola mirror — in its conspicuously curved plastic shell with radical pops of pink neon — proves striking in any space and embodies many of the collective’s postmodern ideals.
After the initial Memphis show caused an uproar, the postmodern movement within furniture and interior design quickly took off in America. (Memphis fell out of fashion when the Reagan era gave way to cool 1990’s minimalism.) The architect Robert Venturi had by then already begun a series of plywood chairs for Knoll Inc., with beefy, exaggerated silhouettes of traditional styles such as Queen Anne and Chippendale. In 1982, the new firm Swid Powell enlisted a group of top American architects, including Frank Gehry, Richard Meier, Stanley Tigerman and Venturi to create postmodern tableware in silver, ceramic and glass.
On 1stDibs, the vintage postmodern furniture collection includes chairs, coffee tables, sofas, decorative objects, table lamps and more.
$884Sale Price / set|55% Off
Wall lighting Glass murano multicolor pair by Zonca , Italie 1980s
By Zonca
Located in La xara, VC
Large pair of Post-Modern wall lamps by Zonca. The design of this lamp is a typical example of the post-modern style of the 80s. The fan-shaped Murano glass takes up the pastel color...
Murano Glass
1980 Mega 2 by Prisma Italian Design Wall Lamp Flush Mount
By Prisma
Located in Brescia, IT
Prisma “Mega 2” Ceiling / Wall Lamp, Italy The Mega 2 is a striking architectural light by Italian manufacturer Prisma, conceived in the late 20th century as part of their professio...
Metal
$2,820 / item
BX2 Wall Lamp by United Alabaster
Located in Geneve, CH
BX2 Wall Lamp by United Alabaster Dimensions: D 42 x W 42 x H 12 cm (Customizable Height) Materials: Alabaster, Copper (Matt Black finish) Also Available: Satin Gold, Nickel, Matt Bl...
Alabaster, Copper
Vintage Postmodern Olympia Floor Lamp by Jorge Pensi for B.Lux, 1980s
By Jorge Pensi
Located in Hamburg, DE
Elegant floor lamp from the Spanish manufacturer B.Lux after a design by Jorge Pensi from the 80s. This floor lamp convinces with it's slender design language and the special materi...
Metal
Mario Tsai, Aluminium Champagne Painted Tsai Table Lamp by Cassina
By Ico Parisi
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Mario Tsai, Aluminium Champagne Painted Tsai Table Lamp by Cassina UNIT OF LIGHT A collection of modular metal lamps in which the base unit alludes to the shape of a brick. A simpl...
Aluminum
Gian Nicola Gigante for Zerbetto — Adjustable Fluorescent Pendant, Italy, 1980s
By Zerbetto, Gian Nicola Gigante
Located in Dronten, NL
A striking Italian modernist pendant designed by Gian Nicola Gigante for Zerbetto. The minimalist fixture is suspended from four slender steel wires, allowing the pendant to be posit...
Steel
Lumenform Table Lamp in Glass and Chrome 1970s
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Lumenform table lamp, chrome-plated steel, glass, Italy, 1970s This striking table lamp, crafted by Lumenform in Italy and stands out as a remarkable piece. Its ingenious design cre...
Steel, Chrome
Flute of Chicago Postmodern Corrugated Cardboard Table Lamp in Red, 1980s
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A bold, sculptural table lamp by Flute of Chicago, designed by Gregory Van Pelt in the 1980s Postmodern idiom — often cited as "in the manner of" Frank Gehry's Easy Edges cardboard f...
Corrugated Cardboard
Rare G. Fantinato for Febo Luce 'Faro' Floor Lamp in Steel and Marble
Located in Waalwijk, NL
G. Fantinato for Febo Luce, 'Faro' floor Lamp, chrome-plated steel, Carrara marble, glass, Italy, 1970s A striking floor lamp designed by Italian designer G. Fantinato, titled Faro,...
Marble, Steel, Chrome
Ceramic "Weightlifter" Sconce, Muscular Arm with Dumbbell, by J.C. Peiré, 1980s
By JC Peire
Located in Lille, FR
This wall sconce or table lamp, depicting a muscular arm with a dumbbell, was made by J.C. Peiré Productions, a small Marseille-based workshop run by ceramicist Jean-Claude Peiré (19...
Ceramic
Postmodern Pair of "Bonsai" Wood Table Lamps by Blauet, Barcelona, 1990s
By Blauet
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Unique and pretty Postmodern Spanish "Gran Bonsai" Pair of Beech Wood Table Lamps by Blauet. Model: B1458-15 Natural / Chrome. These Table Lamps were designed by Josep Llusca for Bla...
Metal
$690 / item
Lounge Jade Green Wall Sconce by MUG
Located in Geneve, CH
Lounge Jade Green Wall Sconce by MUG Dimensions: Ø 8,5 x H 25 cm (customizable height) Materials: Borosilicate glass, Mouth-blown glass, LEDs, Alumin...
Aluminum, Bronze, Pewter
Stunning François Chatain Post Modern Ceramic table lamp 1980s France
Located in Den Haag, NL
Stunning Round Ceramic Table lamp . Cubistic shaped . in typical 1980s Colors , Brown and Yellow's . Comes complete with its Yellow Shade .adjustable in Height , Excellent conditio...
Ceramic
$386 / item
Dream/Reality Wall Sconce by Six Dots Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Dream/Reality Wall Sconce by Six Dots Design Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 9 x W 18 x H 21 cm Materials: Textured aluminum. All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If so...
Aluminum
$2,880Sale Price|20% Off
A Pair Missoni Post-Modern Table Side Lamps by Massimo Valloto, Italy, 1980s
By Missoni, Missoni Home
Located in Vienna, AT
An amazing pair of colorful postmodern Missoni table or side lamps, nightstand lights from the 1980s, designed by Massimo Valloto. This light has an ...
Metal
Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs Eyeball Floor Lamp in Orange Finish c 1970's
By Robert Sonneman, George Kovacs
Located in New York, NY
Cool post modern eyeball floor lamp designed by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs. The lamp features a ball shade which pivots, and tilts to direct the light, it accepts a standard s...
Metal
Kazuhide Takahama Totem Floor Lamp, Sirrah Italy 1981
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Rare Kazuhide Takahama “Totem” floor lamp is one of his most sculptural and architectural lighting designs, designed in the late 70s for Sirrah...
Cement, Metal, Brass
$6,319 / item
Celine Ten Light Black Nickel Chandelier by MUG
Located in Geneve, CH
Celine Ten Light Black Nickel Chandelier by MUG Dimensions: Ø 120 x H 163 cm (customizable height) Materials: Borosilicate glass, LEDs, Iron Finish: Chrome and Matt black All our la...
Nickel
Set of 4 original Memphis style "Jill" Arteluce wall sconces, 1980's
By Perry King and Santiago Miranda, Arteluce
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
A set of 4 original Memphis style "Jill " Arteluce wall sconces by Perry King and S. Miranda, available for purchase per piece. The design is cle...
Metal
Postmodern Italian Washington Table Lamp by Jean Michel Wilmotte, 1980s
By Lumen Center
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern table lamp from the Italian manufacturer Lumen Center Italia based on a design by architect and designer Jean Michel Wilmotte from the 80s. This is the old, original versi...
Metal
$1,217Sale Price|20% Off
R. Beretta & A. Macchi Cassia Italian Stilnovo Parchment Table Lampshade 1980s
By Antonio Pio Macchi Cassia, Roberto Beretta, Stilnovo
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian table lamp model “Paralume” designed by Roberto Beretta and Antonio Macchi Cassia and produced by Stilnovo with black painted metal frame, height-adjustable parchment paper l...
Metal
Paper Milk Large Pendant Light in Ash Wood & Industrial Rice Paper by KIMU
Located in Geneve, CH
Paper Milk Large Pendant Light in Ash Wood & Industrial Rice Paper by KIMU Unique Piece Dimensions: Ø 70 x H 45 cm. Materials: Ash wood and rice paper. Available in different sizes. Prices may vary. All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If sold to the USA it will be wired for the USA for instance. Please contact us. “In Taiwanese life, the most overlooked thing is the lamp... it's hard to find old Taiwanese lamps...
Ash, Paper
Arctic Wall Lamp, Acrylic Pearl Beads and Nylon Thread by Lady Sister
Located in Geneve, CH
Arctic Wall Lamp, Acrylic Pearl Beads and Nylon Thread by Lady Sister Dimensions: W 37 x D 72 x H 15 cm Materials: Acrylic Pearl Beads, Nylon Thread, Epoxy Clay, Wire, CNC Cut Stain...
Stainless Steel
$4,330 / item
Umbra Alabaster Table Lamp by Luis Gimeno
Located in Geneve, CH
Umbra Alabaster Table Lamp by Luis Gimeno Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 36 cm Materials: Alabaster Finish: Natural Honed Alabaster All our lamps can be wired according to each country...
Alabaster
Pendant Chainmail Droplet, Hand-Linked, 120cm, Steel with Brass Finish
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Single Pendant Chainmail Droplet Sculptural Chandelier is a beautiful hand made light piece. A chainmail web hugs the lamp’s canopy, as the knit gets tighter the chainmail envelopes ...
Steel
Folia Cast Bronze and Brass Ceiling Lamp by Federico Stefanovich
Located in Geneve, CH
Folia Cast Bronze and Brass Ceiling Lamp by Federico Stefanovich. Dimensions: W 117 x D 224 x H 21 cm. Material: Cast Bronze, Brass. All our lamps can be wired according to each cou...
Brass, Bronze
Giancarlo Mattioli for Sirrah 'MT' Floor or Table Lamp
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giancarlo Mattioli for Sirrah, 'MT' floor or table lamp, lacquered aluminum, chrome-plated steel, Italy, 1969 The versatile Italian designer, architect, and urban planner Giancarlo...
Aluminum, Steel
Pendant Chandelier, Hand-Linked Chainmail Droplet, 60cm, Steel, Panorammma, Mex
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Single Pendant Chainmail Droplet Sculptural Chandelier is a beautiful hand made light piece. A chainmail web hugs the lamp’s canopy, as the knit gets tighter the chainmail envelopes into a rope which hangs to finally suspend a glass globe. All the while the lamp’s warm light source remains hidden. In Chainmail Droplet Chandelier there is an evident contradiction between material and form as the chainmail takes on an organic cocoon like appearance. When conceiving the first piece in this collection; I sought to create a design that supported the idea of a body that is open to different forms of expression; ultimately seeking to express and question our wish for constraint. An object that through industrial materials knits into a soft light nest...
Steel
Jan Van Lierde Echos Dimmable Floor Lamp for Artemide, 1980s
By Artemide
Located in Radomsko, Województwo łódzkie
Echos floor lamp designed in the 1980s by Jean Van Lierde and produced by Artemide. The sculptural tower lamp features three separate light sources; halogen at the top, a dimmable sw...
Aluminum, Steel
Claudio Salocchi for Lumenform Post-Modern 'Tulpa' Table Lamp
By Claudio Salocchi, Lumenform
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Claudio Salocchi for Lumenform, 'Tulpa' lamp, marble, steel, chrome-plated steel, methacrylate, Italy, 1971 Designed in 1971 by the Italian architect and industrial designer Claudio...
Marble, Steel, Chrome
$5,419 / item
Marina Pendant Lamp by United Alabaster
Located in Geneve, CH
Marina Pendant Lamp by United Alabaster Dimensions: ⌀ 46 x H 26 cm (Customizable Height) Materials: Alabaster, Copper (Matt Black finish) Also Available: Satin Gold, Nickel, Matt Bla...
Alabaster, Copper
Skymning (Twilight) Lamp by Ehlén Johansson, 1990s
By IKEA
Located in Hanover, MA
Skymning (Twilight) lamp by Ehlén Johansson, 1990s for Ikea, Sweden. Chrome, brass, and opaline glass shade. Single Edison screw socket takes a 60 watt lightbulb.
Chrome, Brass
Soft Futurism Lamina Lamp in Aluminum and Marble by Filippo Andrighetto
Located in Geneve, CH
Soft Futurism Lamina Lamp in Aluminum and Marble by Filippo Andrighetto. Dimensions: W 21 x D 21 x H 45 cm. Materials: Gently brushed aluminum and marble. Available in marble option...
Marble, Aluminum
1980s Heavy Metal Chrome Elephant Floor Lamp as Side Table Postmodern Design
Located in München, DE
Very rare chrome metal elephant as a floor lamp or table lamp. Great postmodern design from the 1980s. Made entirely of chromed metal, very high quality and solid. Many details su...
Metal, Chrome
Modernist Dome Top Table Lamp by Paul Mayen for Habitat
By Habitat International, Paul Mayen
Located in New York, NY
Classic Mod design table lamp designed by Paul Mayer for Habitat. The lamp features a black dome shade with a chrome base. The lamp accepts two standard siz...
Steel, Chrome
$315 / item
Stambha Noir Lamp by Deetee Home
Located in Geneve, CH
Stambha Noir Lamp by Deetee Home Dimensions: D 26.67 x H 198.12 cm Materials: Engineered wood Stambha Noir is a striking sculptural column defined by its stacked, geometric black fo...
Wood
Tizio Adjustable Black Table Lamp from Richard Sapper for Artemide, 1972
Located in Hagenbach, DE
This is a highly sought-after adjustable table lamp, designed by the renowned Richard Sapper for the prestigious Italian design brand Artemide. Originally conceived and manufactured ...
Aluminum
Post Modern Desk Lamp by Ron Rezek, ca. 1980's
Located in New York, NY
Chic 1980's desk lamp by Ron Rezek, in excellent original, clean and working condition, showing only light cosmetic wear, normal and consistent with age. The hood shade (6.5 in. diam...
Metal
$1,310 / item
Anden I Opaline Acrylic Table Lamp by Studio Orbeat
Located in Geneve, CH
Anden I Opaline Acrylic Table Lamp by Studio Orbeat Dimensions: W 30 x D 30 x H 12 cm Materials: opaline acrylic, bronze, bulit in dimmer switch and warm LED light. Fittings also av...
Bronze, Other
Italian modern table lamp Daphine Terra by Tommaso Cimini for Lumina, 2010s
By Tommaso Cimini, Lumina
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern table lamp Daphine Terra by Tommaso Cimini for Lumina, 2010s Adjustable table lamp model Daphine Terra in black painted metal. The compact base, complete with a switch...
Metal
Vintage Organic Modern Ceramic Table Lamp, USA, c1980s
Located in Oakland, CA
Gorgeous matte white organic modern vintage ceramic table lamp c1980s by unknown Bay Area artist. From the estate of ceramist, Pat Hill. Signed on bottom. **measurements are withou...
Ceramic
"Mezzo Oracolo" table lamp by Gae Aulenti for Artemide, Italy, 1969
By Gae Aulenti, Artemide
Located in Argelato, BO
1.252 The renowned "Mezza Oracolo" was designed by the brilliant Italian architect and designer Gae Aulenti. The upper part is dominated by a majestic spherical diffuser in white op...
Metal, Brass
$1,680Sale Price / item|40% Off
Martinelli Luce Vera sculptural lighting Postmodern Style
By Martinelli Luce, Paolo Orlandini, Ingo Maurer
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Sculptural hanging light designed by Paolo Orlandini in 1980. Produced by Martinelli Luce. As changing position of the supporting ring and main rod, Position of the shade is change...
Steel
$14,136 / item
Signe Pendant Lamp by United Alabaster
Located in Geneve, CH
Signe Pendant Lamp by United Alabaster Dimensions: D 11 x W 185 x H 21 cm (Customizable Height) Materials: Alabaster, Copper (Matt Black finish) Also Available: Satin Gold, Nickel, M...
Alabaster, Copper
Ernesto Gismondi Terra Floor Lamp for Artemide Camera, 1980s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Post-Modern floor lamp designed by Ernesto Gismondi for Artemide, manufactured in Italy during the 1980s. The Camera Terra consists of a slender chromed metal rod rising from a flat ...
Metal, Enamel, Chrome
Post Modern Cadmo Floor Lamp by Karim Rashid for Artemide c 2000/2010
By Artemide, Karim Rashid
Located in New York, NY
Stunning Postmodern floor lamp designed by noted architect Karim Rashid for Artemide, circa 2000/2020. This lamp features a bulb at the top. and one within the vertical standard ( h...
Steel
Pipe Dream Table Lamp, Multicolor sculptural postmodern functional art, light
By Luft Tanaka
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rough and tumble yet inherently sculptural, the Pipe Dream Series reveals the raw beauty of industrial materials. Composed of aluminum pipes and fittings, each piece exposes its stru...
Aluminum
Ron Rezek Verdigris Table Lamp, 1980's
By Ron Rezek
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A verdigris copper table lamp by designer Ron Rezek. Made in the 1980's. The piece is in all original vintage condition with light wear around the base of the lamp and varying degr...
Brass, Copper
$901 / item
Sino Meio G Wall Lamp by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Sino Meio G Wall Lamp by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 15 x D 10 x H 30 cm Materials: Cast metal. Finishes: Polished Cast Brass or Polished Cast Aluminum Also available in Polished Cast...
Metal
Geometric Flush Mount Lights by Philips in Metal & Opaline Glass, 1960
By Philips
Located in Los Angeles, CA
wonderful burnt orange and white flush mount lights by Philips, in enameled metal and opaline glass light covers, porcelain sockets, 4 available, wired for US standards, one E27 sock...
Metal
1 of the 3 Pairs Postmodern Filicudara Sconces by S. Lombardi for Artemide, 1980
By Artemide
Located in Rijssen, NL
1 of the 5 impressive pairs of Postmodern style wall sconces designed by Steve Lombardi for Artemide Italy. Model Filicudara designed in the 1980s. A wonderful shape. Real statement ...
Aluminum
Francesco Buzzi Ceriani 'Cuffia' Table Lamp in Black Metal
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Francesco Buzzi Ceriani 'Cuffia' table lamp, aluminum, steel, chrome, Italy, design 1960s The Cuffia table lamp, designed by Francesco Buzzi Ceriani in 1960s Italy, is a refined exa...
Aluminum, Steel, Chrome
$48,400Sale Price|20% Off
Rare Jo-Jo n°2072 Pendant Lamp by Gino Sarfatti, Italy, 1953
Located in Montréal, CA
A rare five-disc variation of the iconic “Jo-Jo” pendant lamp designed by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce. Crafted from lacquered aluminum and methacrylate (lucite), the fixture is compos...
Aluminum
Postmodern Light Lite Ceiling Lamp by Philippe Starck for Flos, 1990s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Light Lite Ceiling Lamp by Philippe Starck for Flos, 1990s - Design classics from Flos, by the designer Philippe Starck from the early 90s - The lamp is made entirely fro...
Plastic
$650 / item
Roger Tallon for Erco 'Spot' Wall Lights
By Roger Tallon, Erco
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Roger Tallon for Erco, 'Spot' wall lights, iron, lacquered metal, metal, plastic, France, 1970s. These wall lamps are icons made by Erco and designed by the French designer Roger Ta...
Metal
Ico Parisi Palpebra Aluminium Table Lamp by Cassina
By Ico Parisi
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ico Parisi Palpebra Matt Black Table Lamp by Cassina The creative flair of Ico Parisi in a playful invention of mimicry. This artistic lamp is engineered to open and close, mimicki...
Aluminum
$12,264 / item
Signature Pendant Lamp by United Alabaster
Located in Geneve, CH
Signature Pendant Lamp by United Alabaster Dimensions: D 185 x W 11 x H 21 (Customizable Height) Materials: Alabaster, Copper (Matt Black finish) Also Available: Satin Gold, Nickel, ...
Alabaster, Copper
Sculptural Light No. 130, Handblown Glass and Brass, by Milla Vaahtera
Located in Geneve, CH
Sculptural light no. 130 by Milla Vaahtera Dimensions: D 55 x W 95 x H 75 cm Materials: Handblown glass, handcrafted brass. Sculptural Lights are handmade light fixtures that functi...
Brass
Mt Elbert Elk & Mule Deer Series Antler Chandelier by The Peak Antler
Located in Geneve, CH
Mt Elbert Elk & Mule Deer Series Antler Chandelier by The Peak Antler Dimensions: D 182.88 x H 182.88 cm Materials: naturally shed antlers Based in, produced and shipped from the US...
Antler
Swedish Designer, Wall Light, Pine, Velvet, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A pine and brown velvet wall light designed and produced in Sweden, 1970s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 15” H x 9” W x 12” D Backplate Dimensions (inches): 6.06" H x 6.06" W x 1.75...
Velvet, Pine